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Published on: January 30, 2018
Relationship between balance abilities and gait characteristics in children with post-traumatic brain injury
Michal Katz-Leurer1, Hemda Rotem, Hana Lewitus
1Alyn Hospital, Pediatric and Adolescent Rehabilitation Center, Jerusalem, Israel. michalkz@post.tau.ac.il
Insights
Children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) exhibit greater step length variability and poorer balance than typically developed peers. This increased gait variability is linked to functional balance deficits in children with TBI.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanical Analysis
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in children can lead to long-term motor impairments.
- Gait variability and balance are crucial for functional mobility and independence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare gait variability and balance in children with TBI versus typically developed (TD) children.
- To investigate the relationship between gait variability and functional balance in both groups.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 24 children post-TBI and 24 TD controls.
- Gait variability (step length, step time, base width) measured using an electronic walkway.
- Functional balance assessed via Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Functional Reach Test (FRT).
Main Results:
- Children post-TBI demonstrated significantly greater step length variability compared to TD children.
- Functional balance was significantly impaired in children post-TBI.
- A significant inverse correlation existed between balance performance and step length variability in children with TBI.
Conclusions:
- Ambulatory children with severe TBI show reduced balance, slower gait, and increased step length variability.
- Gait variability, particularly step length, is a relevant indicator of balance deficits in pediatric TBI.
Objectives:
To quantify the differences in gait variability and balance performance between typically developed (TD) children and children with post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to determine the association between gait variability and functional balance in both groups.
Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Physical therapy department of a paediatric and adolescent rehabilitation hospital.
Participants:
A convenience sample of 24 children post-TBI and 24 TD age and sex matched controls.
Intervention:
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measure:
Step length, step time and base width variability measured with an electronic walkway; timed up and go (TUG) test and functional reach test (FRT) as a functional balance test.
Results:
Base width and step time variability showed no significant difference between the groups. However, children post-TBI had significantly greater variability in step length in comparison to healthy controls. The functional balance abilities of children post-TBI were significantly limited compared to TD children. A significant linear inverse correlation was found between balance performance and step length variability only among children with a TBI.
Conclusion:
Ambulatory children post-severe TBI had decreased balance performance, decreased gait speed and increased step length variability as compared to age-matched healthy controls.